rivka: (Rivka P.I.)
rivka ([personal profile] rivka) wrote2009-10-12 07:59 pm

(no subject)

This morning I was scheduled to present my research at the hourlong general staff seminar, in front of the eminent and notable (and scary) Dr. Institute Director, my division director, and about forty other people.

I had strong work to present. I put together a great presentation. I practiced it in front of [livejournal.com profile] wcg and [livejournal.com profile] curiousangel, which was especially helpful because my general staff audience was not going to be composed of psychologists.

Two hours before I was due to go on, I had (a) no childcare, and (b) the beginning stages of a raging cold.

Our nanny was sick. Our backup childcare person wasn't answering her phone. Michael had already taken unscheduled time away from work to take care of the kids just last Friday, and we were both a little unsure where his boss would want to draw the line. Oh: and I had a headache and cough and a swimming head.

I finally got through to a friend on the phone, and she was so awesome that before I could get my groveling request out of my mouth she offered to come over with her two-year-old to care for Colin. Michael came home just in case I had to leave before she got there, and then stayed to drive me to work. I actually got there with enough time to spare that I could look over my presentaton a few times before the seminar. I still felt dangerously light-headed as I loaded my presentation, and I had to have a water bottle on the podium to deal with coughing fits.

And then? Then I utterly rocked my prsentation. I hit it out of the park.

It was very well received. People made a lot of comments and asked cogent questions. There was only a little whispering among the senior staff (usually a chronic problem). People seemed to be genuinely interested, which is so not a given when a behavioral scientist gets up in front of a bunch of virologists and immunologists.

Dr. Institute Director was stuck in traffic and didn't arrive until about 45 minutes in, which was unfortunate. Or maybe fortunate. I would've liked him to hear about my research, but I confess that I did feel safer with him absent.

Afterwards, the adrenaline that got me through the presentation ebbed away and I started to feel very ill indeed. Lydia had no trouble believing that it would be better for all concerned if I just went home. Phew. I felt wrecked.

But man did I ever do a good job at general staff. I am proud. And grateful to my community, without whom it wouldn't have happened.

[identity profile] telerib.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Hurray for [livejournal.com profile] rivka!

[identity profile] ex-serenejo.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
Ohmigosh, I was holding my breath until the 6th paragraph! Go, you!

[identity profile] laurent-atl.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
congratulations!

[identity profile] ratphooey.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
Brava! And get well soon!

[identity profile] nelc.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Excellent! You had me worried for a while there.

[identity profile] janetmiles.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, well done! And three cheers for the community you have built, too.

[identity profile] adrian-turtle.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
Good for you! I hope you feel better soon.

[identity profile] hobbitbabe.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
That is *excellent*. I wish I could hear that presentation.

I have to admit that when you didn't mention Alex, I was imagining her in the audience helping with the cogent questions -- but I'm guessing she was at preschool.

[identity profile] rivka.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, she was. Alex has a lot more options than Colin - she can almost always stay for the afternoon session at school for an extra fee, or I could ask a friend to come over and supervise while she watches videos, or in a pinch she could have gone to work with Michael and sat in his office coloring. But Colin needs a lot of vigilant care, and he has just started to have stranger anxiety.

I wish you could've heard the presentation too!

[identity profile] wcg.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
And then? Then I utterly rocked my prsentation. I hit it out of the park.

Yeah! Way to go Rivka.

[identity profile] faxpaladin.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
Kick ass! Hope you get to feeling better...

[identity profile] beaq.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
Yahoo!

[identity profile] bibliotrope.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
Yay for your presentation going so well!

[identity profile] treadpath.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
YAY! That's awesome!!! Go Rivka!!! And feel better soon! :D

[identity profile] tassie-gal.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
WOOT! There is nothing more satifying then giving a good presentation to people who dont speak fluent you and having them understand and want to know more.
In totally random posting, I read something the other day and immediately thought of you - it was a paper looking at the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the implications for HIV education and AIDS risk Education Programs in the Black community. I figure you will have read it, but it was kinda kewl to read it and know I knew of someone working in that area!

[identity profile] acceberskoorb.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
YAY! Congratulations!!

[identity profile] baldanders.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
Man, that was hard. You rock.
ailbhe: (Default)

[personal profile] ailbhe 2009-10-13 09:24 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, you are SO FABULOUS. When the illness wears off I hope you can revel in self-satisfaction - wallow in it for a bit. You are so excellent.

[identity profile] green-knight.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 10:28 am (UTC)(link)
You rock!

But we knew that.

Hope you'll feel better soon!

[identity profile] papersky.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Well done.

[identity profile] fairoriana.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay for you and for friends who come through!

[identity profile] jinian.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Excellent!

[identity profile] lynsaurus.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 03:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! I knew you would be awesome.
boxofdelights: (Default)

[personal profile] boxofdelights 2009-10-13 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations!

[identity profile] bosssio.livejournal.com 2009-10-13 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Congrats! well done!

[identity profile] windsea.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
Go you. And go support systems :-)